Exclusive: Obama to include Republicans in hard-hitting convention

Advisers to President Barack Obama are scripting a Democratic National Convention featuring several Republicans in a prime-time appeal to independents — and planning a blistering portrayal of Mitt Romney as a heartless aristocrat who “would devastate the American middle class,” Democratic sources tell POLITICO.

According to convention planning documents, the three-night convention in Charlotte, N.C., early next month will seek to “[e]xpose Mitt Romney as someone who doesn’t understand middle class challenges” while also burnishing “the President’s image as someone whose life story is about fighting for middle class Americans and those working to get into the middle class.”

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Each night of the convention will include a star turn for what planners call “real people” — for instance, an auto worker whose job was saved, a student who benefited from college loans and an entrepreneur fueled by federal research-and-development funds.

The most innovative — and harshest — element of the preliminary program is a nightly “social contrast” in which two people describe their personal experience with a hot-button issue — one person lauding the president’s actions, the other taking Romney to task. “Each paired-testimonial should have an ‘unexpected’ participant,” the documents say.

But the plans show organizers intent on steering clear of controversy as well. For the gay marriage social contrast, for instance, the documents state the participants should be “not a gay couple” — but a “parent and gay son or daughter.”

Other examples: “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell: Gay soldier and fellow (straight) soldier who served together in Iraq or Afghanistan (ideally the straight soldier was helped by the gay soldier, i.e., medic, in fire fight) … Planned Parenthood: Husband who talks about how a PAP smear saved his wife’s life and his spouse … Immigration: Two young people from the same family, one who was born here, the other a few years older who was not … Choice: A couple who has children, but wants to make their own decisions, not have the government do it for them (or who has confronted a difficult medical situation).”

The documents also give a glimpse of what parts of Obama’s record will get the most attention in the campaign, with one piece — the auto bailout — rating several mentions in the plan. “Tell the story of the President’s accomplishments — the auto rescue, manufacturing, ending the war, health care, energy — as central to his fight for the middle class and America’s long-term economic strength,” is listed as one objective of the convention.

The plans are spelled out in an early draft of the convention plan, providing an unusual glimpse of presidential advisers’ thought bubble about what viewers will see from the podium — closed captioning of what strategist David Axelrod and other top advisers are thinking about each element of the television spectacle. The detailed plans also offer a preliminary road map of the Obama campaign’s big themes for the fall.

The details seem likely to change: The final convention plan will be a joint product of the campaign, the White House, outside advisers and the Democratic National Committee. But top Democrats say the draft reflects the thinking of the senior advisers, and the starting point for preparing a line-by-line program for Sept. 4-6.

Ben LaBolt, the Obama campaign’s national press secretary, said: “A number of speaking programs are under consideration for the convention, and the only ones that are final are those that have been announced. It’s no secret that the convention will both present the president’s vision and outline the choice that Americans will face in November.”

Aiming to connect the cerebral Obama with average Americans — and thus emphasize one of Romney’s most notable weaknesses — the convention will try to portray the president as “driven by the same values we have, because he’s faced the same struggles.”

First lady Michelle Obama will begin communicating that message when she speaks during the convention’s opening session on Tuesday night. Her planned remarks will reflect “the middle class values and orientation that POTUS brings to his job every day — how he makes tough decisions, what his north star is.”

We are still 3 months away from the election and Obama is already running a really dirty campaign. He uses personal attacks on Romney because his record is so bad. Obama is a not a nice person like some people think. He is a ruthless politicians who will do anything to win!

According to convention planning documents, the three-night convention in Charlotte, N.C., early next month will seek to “[e]xpose Mitt Romney as someone who doesn’t understand middle class challenges” while also burnishing “the President’s image as someone whose life story is about fighting for middle class Americans and those working to get into the middle class.”

Everything but addressing the big issues on the economy and high unemployment. Cirque du Obama sounds like a show that you'll forget the minute you walk out of it, maybe entertainment, but no substance.

This latest campaign gimmick by Barack Obama won't convince me that he's worthy of another disastrous term of office. This president does not promote mainstream American values--in fact, his policies are what I would call immoral. He's has not created a viable, sustainable economy, failed to create jobs, squandered the taxpayers' money, and presumes that he's actually doing a decent job. His political appointees are all Left-wing Liberal Democrats, political hacks and spinsters, and radical activists, with a handful of RHINOs thrown in. I have grave doubts as to Obama's true life story. because he just refuses to release his college records, among other very suspicious coverups. Obama's numerous teleprompter speeches may continue to deceive die-hard Democrats that he's worthy of another term, but I shutter to think what America will look like should, God forbid, Barack Obama have another four years to destroy what's left of the America I love. This panderer-in-chief is the worst president in my lifetime and might be the worst president in all American history, even more despised than Jimmy Carter. I don't believe any of the hype that the Democrats put out because I know it presents only lies, spin and smears. Worst of all, perhaps, is the plain fact that Barack Obama had no real experience in anything other than community organizing and Left-wing activism, fueled by his longtime associations with radical individuals while living in Chicago. Romney is not perfect but Romney is certainly far better and experienced than what we now have occupying the Oval Office in the White House. Election Day is Tuesday, November 6, 2012.

Each night of the convention will include a star turn for what planners call “real people” – for instance, an auto worker whose job was saved, a student who benefited from college loans and an entrepreneur fueled by federal research-and-development funds.

By now, most Americans, view the whole gamut of this so-called 'act of real Democracy' as a major hoax.. A hoax set-up by MSM and their 'higher'ups'. And ye think we are goin' to think that it is genuine!

Even Putin has laughed-out-loud over the 'act'.. Even CarraVille Twins are thinkin' of their 'soul' -- 2 save! Hoaxers, liars, willin' useful idiots. but a lot of pay for some. Takes pay to tell the truth?

Perhaps, they can give all the participants a 1964 and 1/2 Mustang with the top down.. The Karen Hughes test of excitment.. You know freedom.,.. What a total joke you liars turn out to be.. Want more downside.. keep doin' what you're doin'! You guys and gals shall havbe nothing in the end but you did facilitate this great HOAX. We know it! The CFR knew it> And You, son of Gary, should know it too.

American Exceptionalism - Highest Inflation, zero jobs via NAFTA, GATT, WTO.. And They now Cometh tellin' you that we'll all be singin' "happy Daze Are Here Again". A joke.. Putin knows.. Trump's in to himself - 4 h's great.. LOL. Joey daDuke serves not the King, nor the One, but the other. You'll pay also for your assistence of stringin' out the dupe!

Well, bunk to that.. Hands-down.. No more dupe accepteance here, or there.

Obama's numerous teleprompter speeches may continue to deceive die-hard Democrats that he's worthy of another term,

The problem with die hard Democrats is they will not face the facts, and I talk to them all the time, they have not a clue what a liar he is, they don't care about facts, they don't care about his past, they don't understand that this is a community organizer and has never had a real job, that he is probably not an American citizen, has a Connecticut SSN, no real birth certificate is, his friends are terrorists, and America hater's, he continually insists that your car can run on wind power,the healthcare bill will kill the middle class in taxes and put people out of work, etc, etc, etc.

They just don't care. I have even heard, "I will vote for whoever the Union tells me to vote for." Unreal !!!!

I have long believed Team Obama should go after Republican voters, especially since a majority of them (including a majority of tea partiers) agree with our president and not Romney that all big hugely profitable corporations and individuals should pay federal taxes each year and that the richest should not be receiving big welfare checks ( = federal subsidies) and that they should not be paying lower tax rates that middle class Americans. The majority of voters in all political parties are rubbed raw by the special help reckless big banks and Wall Streeters received after they caused the Great Crash of the stock market and are in no mood to let them run wild again by repealing new financial regulatory laws, as Romney intends to do.

There is a long, long list of prominent and ordinary Republicans that believe in country first and that civilized discourse, respect for science and rational compromises to solve problems and move the country forward shouldn't be disqualifying features for good standing membership in the Republican Party. As most of these disillusioned Republicans have said: I didn't leave the Republican Party; it left me. The new radicalized Republican Party, in a quest for a crazy ideological "purity," has made the political party such an inhospitable place that debt-ceiling-raising, compromising, tax-raising Ronald Reagan, if still living, could find no home in it today. Yes, go after the masses of betrayed Republicans that still put country before party and are seeking a new political home.

There is a long, long list of prominent and ordinary Republicans that believe in country first and that civilized discourse, respect for science and rational compromises to solve problems and move the country forward shouldn't be disqualifying features for good standing membership in the Republican Party. As most of these disillusioned Republicans have said: I didn't leave the Republican Party; it left me. The new radicalized Republican Party, in a quest for a crazy ideological "purity," has made the political party such an inhospitable place that debt-ceiling-raising, compromising, tax-raising Ronald Reagan, if still living, could find no home in it today. Yes, go after the masses of betrayed Republicans that still put country before party and are seeking a new political home.

Republicans also believe that a real President should not bow to Saudi Kings, put tax payer money into loosing ventures, do a trillion dollar give away to special interests, pass a healthcare bill via the back door, buying votes with cash, medicaid prizes, and airplane trips, pal around with terrorists, Ayers, America haters, Rev. Wright, criminals, Tony Rezco. And his ideology regarding "you didnt build that business on your own" Socialism- not to mention, his non transparent transparency are all attributes of someone who is dishonest. thank goodness for those crazy radicalized new Republicans.